This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

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Hi All - my name is Eric, I am a 28 year old male in Chicago who was diagnosed yesterday with MS. I googled up this forum and all of the information is really great.

Here is my real quick backstory - When I was about 19 or 20, half of my body (the right half) went numb for about a month. It didn't affect my ability to do anything and it went away. 3 years ago, one of my eyes was blurry for about a month. Got an MRI but no red flags and it went away. My neurologist yesterday said he caught a lesion in the eye MRI. DOH! Most recently for the last 4 months, my legs have been very tingly with decreased muscle coordination in my legs. This has affected my ability to walk more than a few blocks and that sort of stuff so I went and saw my DR - after a bunch of scans, I don't have tons of lesions, but I do seem to have a few everywhere - brain, spine and so on. So, this being my third clinical whatever, I guess I am diagnosed.

After reading some of the postings here I feel pretty lucky - this current attack while long lasting (4 mo's so far) has only reduced my ability to walk long distances. I can still drive, do my job, handle family duties and all that! Maybe next time it will be worse, but if this is the worst my MS ever gets than I will count myself blessed. Other symptoms I have beyond numb / pins and needles in the legs are having to go to the bathroom a lot, despite, not actually going very much each time (hah) and what my dr. called the MS Hug - a tightness in my torso and what feels like a belt tightened around my left thigh.

Anyhow, I have been prescribed a ton of steroids to try and stop this current attack and we are going to go ahead and pursue Gilenya as my MS medication which I am pretty excited about. Well I am slightly worried about changing jobs or getting fired - I am not sure how the cost of that drug and the insurance issues play out. At any rate, I will make sure to post about my Gilenya results as I start taking it since people here seem to be very interested about that topic.

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I don't know if the drug maker of Gilenya has a CoPay Assistance program, but some of the drug companies do. Definitely worth checking into--I couldn't afford medicine at all if I didn't get that! I only pay $10 a month, instead of $900. I've paid way more than 10 bucks in the past, so I'm grateful for the assistance.

Let us know how Gilenya's working for you if you end up on it. It sounds like you have a great attitude, and that will go a long way in helping you through this!

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